Plow-frame.



P. A. yMONIANUS &, A. W. GRANT.

` l PLOW FRAME. v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23,1912. 1 O7() 907, Patented Aug. 19, 1913. 2 'z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Patented Aug. 19, 1913] 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@ww/Mgg www@ o.. *PM a@ @Wytm M m NITED STATES PATENT FTCE. Y

PAUL A. MONTANUS AND ARTHUR W. GRANT, OP SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNORS To GRAIVIONT TRAoTIoN PLOW COMPANY, A COPARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OE ARTHUR W. GRANT AND PHILIP E. MONTANUS, OE SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

PLOW-FRAME.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, PAUL A. MONTANUS and ARTHUR WV. GRANT, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plow-Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gang plows, and deals more especially with improvements in the construction of the main frame thereof, and is particularly concerned with a reinforced structure especially suitable for carrying the stresses of a motor driven organization.

One Object within the contemplation of this invention is to so construct the frame as to reduce the weight and cost thereof to a minimum, and at the same time provide a structure characterized by great strength and rigidity.

Another Object is to provide a frame which will be essentially practical in carrying out the principle of a three-point support and which will permit of a disposition of supporting wheels such that they are not obliged to traverse ground which has been broken.

Another Obj ect is to create a frame which may be mounted on three non-symmetrically arranged Wheels, and which provides for the support of the operator on an overhanging portion of the frame Without unduly flexing the same or materially impairing its stability.

Another object is to design a frame such that the propulsion strains will be forwardly located, and the plow strains will be localized at a portion rearwardly thereof, so that the motor may draw or pull the plows through the frame members, rather than push the same, thereby enhancing the control or steadiness of operation of the apparatus, while enabling a relatively light frame to be used.

Still another object is to devise a frame such that the steering thereof may be accomplished by a rearwardly located supporting wheel arranged at one side of the center line of the structure, and at the same time enable the operator to be supported at the rear on the side opposite to that occupied by the steering wheel and on a portion of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 23, 1912.

Patented Aug. 19,1913.

Serial No. 685,868.

frame which overhangs the ground being broken by the action of the underlying plows.

Another object of the invention is to render available a light frame so constructed that the Weight of the overhanging. parts, including that of the operator, will be effectively braced, and so designed that the traction force may be applied effectively to draw the plo-ws from reinforced frame portions to prevent distortion under rough usage, and without disturbing the alinement of the various operating elements.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the accompanying description and in part rendered apparent in connection with the accompanying drawings.

To enable those skilled in the art to apply the characteristic features and principles in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings typical of one of the many possible forms thereof have been appended as a part of this disclosure, and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:-

Figure 1 illustrates a top plan of a frame constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 shows a section on line o, o, of the foregoing structure shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a section on line m, x, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a section on line to, w, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detailed section on line y, y, of Fig. 5.

Continuing by way of a more detailed description, it may be preliminarily noted that, while certain features and arrangements of this invention may be utilized in connection with a gang plow of the type adapted to be trailed, its advantages are accentuated and fully developed in its utilization as an element of a self-contained or unitary motor-driven apparatus. This willY with a multiple plow such as we have disclosed and claimed in our other co-pending application, Serial No. 685,867, tiled March 23, 1912.

rllhe design of the herein proposed frame is such that most of the main members may be formed of I-beams or U-bars bolted or riveted together at the various contacting points (angle irons or straps preferably being usedY as indicated on the drawings); and these members are braced together in a manner such as will render a three-point support quite practical in a light yet hardy structure owing to the ample provision against deflection where the loads are greatest and against such distortion as would disturb the alinement of the operating parts. Preferably, the three points of support have a somewhat non-symmetrical arrangement and provision is made for carrying the operator on a laterally extending or overhanging portion ofthe frame, thus positioning' hina over a space which may be occupied by plows without interference .with a ground wheel. This will be better understood by referring to Fig. 1, on which A and B indicate points of support, as by the traction wheels, and C indicates the third point of support, as by a trailing steering wheel. The support C is preferably arranged on the left-hand side and is adapted for an apparatus plowing rows recurring in a right to left sequence.

rlhe operator is intended to be carried at the right hand point indicated by D, and the underlying plows are also intended to be arranged adjacent this point, preferably somewhat forward thereof, and, as no underlying supporting wheel is provided at that locality, the weight of the operator, in addition to 'that of the overhanging parts, tends to distort the frame, to cramp the bearings, and also tends to act as an overturning force. To compensate for this, the frame is constructed with certain brace members and bonds adapted to resist flexure and the weight of the motor or other parts is intended to be so distributed at the left of the diagonal from B to C as to safely overbalance that at the right.

The major elements of the open frame comprise an end girder 1, preferably in the form of a channel, bar, right and left side longitudinal beams 2, 3, preferably in the form of -beams, and a rear end channel har 4; together with a corner casting 5, all bolted or riveted together in a suitable manner. The forward end beam 1 may be secured to the adjacent end of the beam 3 by means of the angle iron (3, and it may be se` cured to the beam 2 by the top and bottom plates 7 and S, which plates may also be utilized for establishing connection with a diagonal brace. The rear end of the beam 2 is shown connected to the side of the rear beam -lby means of the angle iron 9, and it is to be noted that this latter beam et extends considerably beyond the side beam 2, so as to form a support 1,0 for the operatorls seat and for certain of the manipulative elements, to that end, the seat (35 may be connected with such projecting end by means of the bar (3U. The corner casting 5 is constructed with a tubular corner post 11, which constitutes `the bearing for the spindle of the trailing wheel, and integrally extending from said post are upright triangular reinforcing webs l2 and 13 which are secured at their sides to the respective beams 3 and fl, so as to resist lthe stresses in a. vertical plane, and it also provides the horizontal web lat, which is utilized as an anchorage for one of the diagonal bars, resists the stresses in the horizontal plane and prevents a warping or angular distortion of the parts at this corner. lithile the corner casting herein shown preferably is formed of an integral piece, as of cast metal, and while it exercises the joint oliice of a wheel support and of a corner reinforcement, it may assume modified forms and func-tions and may be built. in sections.

The axle of the traction wheels, as indicated by 15, is preferably fixed so as to serve as a reinforcing element of the frame. It is shown mounted under the side beau'ls 2 and 3, and is clamped in a Vlixed relation therewith by means of the blocks 16 and 17 which are bolted to such beams. lt is also noteworthy that this axle may with advantage be rigidly clamped to the long diagonal 18 by means of the block 33, thereby further reinforcing the structure. The projecting ends of this axle form journals or bearings for the traction wheels and constitute the points of propulsion of the frame.

To prevent a twisting of the rectangular frame into a diamond-like shape under rough usage, and to otherwise reinforce various parts thereof, a long diagonal beam 1S, preferably in the form of an. -beam, extends from the corner casting 5 and has its end terminating between the brace plates l and 8, to which it is securely riveted. 1V hile such diagonal may be secured in any suitable manner to the horizontal web 1&1-, of the corner casting 5, we prefer to utilize the method of connection illustrated in detail by Fig. 3,

in which the underside of the web 111 provides parallel ridges 19 and 20 to which are secured the angle irons 21 and 22, which are each bolted to the web of the -beam, this provides spaces, as indicated by 23, by reason of any lack of close fit of the bars. These spaces are filled with babbitt, thus forming a solid or rigid union. inasmuch as the weight of the operator tends to deflect the frame about the diagonal 18 as an axis, we have also provided an intermediately located short diagonal, consisting of the -beam 2l and which is secured to the side-beams 2 and 3 by suitable bolts or rivets. This short diagonal underlies the above mentioned beams and it is also secured at its crossing t-o the long diagonal 18 by means of rivets or bolts 25, 26, and 27, located about as indicated on the drawings. Its end supports the right hand side member at an intermediate point and prevents flexure thereof. To further brace this frame, the channel bar 28 extends at right angles from the side beam 2 in the plane thereof to the side of the beam 18, above its crossing with the short diagonal 24, and a corresponding section 29 extends from the other side of the diagonal 18 to the beam 3, said parts being securely bolted or riveted together at their respective points of contact. This transversereinforcement has been shown as a two-part structure within the plane of the frame and as thus constructed it is very effective as a strut or compression element for bracing the frame against distortion within its plane, but it may if desired be made integral or disposed underneath the plane of the frame.

It will be noted that the strongest and best braced portion of the frame is located along the transverse line through the intersection and connection of the two diagonals and the transverse reinforcement. This position lies to the rear of the axle of the traction wheels and approximately midway the length of the frame and' considerably in advance of the steering wheel. The plows are therefore very advantageously pulled from this locality since the steering wheel will have a long steering leverage on this point of resistance, the frame is well braced to withstand severe strains at this point and the traction forces are directly effective without tending to skew the apparatus or render the steering more difficult. Plow dragging structures or mount-ings of various forms may be carried at this locality, but that shown is simple, strong and possesses interchangeable parts adapting it readily for various types of plows. It comprises a draw bar 85 underlying the frame and positioned sutiiciently near the ground to enable the pull on the plows to be as direct as possible and avoid undue bending in the parts. This bar is carried by the brackets 86 and 87 which are bolted or riveted to and depend from the side beam 2 and the diagonals 18 and 24 respectively.

Inasmuch as various types of plowing mechanism may be actuated by this organization, some of which may require the draw bar to be arranged at a different height from that shown, or may even require a fixture other than a draw bar, it is proposed to use two-partstandards or brackets so that the lower halves thereof may be interchanged according to the requirements. The bracket 86 therefore has a lower section 88 shown in Fig. 2, and the bracket 87 is somewhat similarly constructed.. Since this latter bracket is designed to be bolted to the long diagonal beam 18 and also to the short diagonal 24, and at the same time provide for the support of the transverse draw bar 85, it may preferably be constructed as shown more particularly in the drawings. That is to say, its upper section provides a clamping face 89, for attachment to the under surface of the diagonal 18 and it also provides a lower clamping face 90 which is disposed angularly to the face 89 in accordance with the angular relation of the diagonals 18 and 24. The lower face 91, which clamps against the lower half section of the bracket is set or disposed in a direction at right angles to the axis of the draw bar 85 so that the lower section of this bracket may be devoid of angular bearings and may be the counterpart, if desired, of the lower section 88 of the bracket 86. If it is to be used in connection with a plow mechanism, such as that disclosed in our said co-pending application, this draw bar is preferably rotatably mounted in these brackets, so that it may be actuated to adjust the action of the plows. This frame is designed with a view to enabling the motor and transmitting parts to be positioned at its forward end in approximately such relation with the axle 15 and the long diagonal that the rear portion of the frame will be sufliciently balanced against overturning to be rendered extremely stable. To that end, the base of the motor may be positioned as indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 1. A transverse channel bar 31 may be arranged to assist in the support of this base and further brace the structure. Such bar 31 may overlie the diagonal 24 and be connected at its ends to the side beam 3 and the long diagonal by means of the angle irons 32.

It will thus be perceived that the various objects of this invention have been achieved in a simple and effective manner and thatthe arrangement possesses certain other advantages. Thus, the frame arrangement enables an apparatus in which it is embodied to be propelled by means of forward wheels, whereby the turning torque of the motor would not exercise an uplifting or overturning tendency on the rear of the frame where the operator is seated.

It is to be noted that, in the light of this disclosure, certain modifications may be made and that certain features may be used without others, within the scope of the following claims.

Having described the claim 1. A structure of the nature disclosed combining an open elongated frame formed of members located in the same plane, a diagonal reinforcing beam underlying said members, a short bracket section depending invention, we

from said beam, a longer bracket section depending from one of said members and terminating on a level with said short bracket section, duplicate lower bracketsections depending from the aforesaid short and long sections, and a dragging means attached to said lower sections.

2. A structure of the nature disclosed, combining an elongated open frame formed of elongated side members and short transverse end members, an axle for right and left hand traction wheels mounted on said frame nea-r an end thereof, a casting arranged at the other end of said frame adjacent the corner thereof and adapted to serve as a mounting for a supporting wheel, the transversely opposite adjacent corner of said frame having an extension adapted to support an operator at a point directly rearvard of a traction wheel, a diagonal extending from said corner casting to the diagonally opposite corner of said frame, and a short diagonal crossing the same at about its center and connected with the said side members at points remote from their respective ends.

8. An open frame of the nature disclosed combining elongated side members and transverse end members, an axle rigidly secured to said side members near one end of said frame and serving as a frame reinforcing member, an elongated diagonal connected with the right-hand side member forward of said axle and having a connection with the rear left hand corner portion of the frame, said diagonal being rigidly connected with said axle at its crossing therewith, and a short diagonal connected with said left hand side member at a point adjacent said axle and crossing said diagonal into a connection with the opposite side member.

4.. A frame of the nature disclosed, combining an open elongated frame formed of elongated side. and short transversely arranged end members, an axle member secured to said side members adjacent one end of said frame, an elongated diagonal member extending from corner to corner, and a short diagonally arranged member extending from a point on one of said side members adjacent its connection with said axle across said elongated diagonal into connection with the opposite sid-e member at a point distant from said axle,

5. A frame of the nature disclosed, combining an open rectangle formed of elongated side members and short end members, an elongated reinforcing member diagonally extending from corner to corner, a short diagonally arranged member crossing said long diagonal at approximately its center, and having its ends connected with said elongated side member at points remote from their ends, and a transverse reinforce- Lof/0,90?

ment extending from the side members connected with one of said diagonals at said crossing.

G. An open frame of the nature disclosed combining elongated side members and transverse end members, an axle transversely arranged near the forward end of said frame and rigidly connected with said side members to reinforce the same, an elongated diagonal member extending across said axle to a corner of said frame, a short diagonal connected to the side member at a point adjacent said axle and intersecting said diagonal member at about its center and also connected with the opposite side member, and a transverse reinforcement extending from said point of intersection to said side members.

7. A structure of the nature disclosed, combining an open frame formed of elongated side members and transverse end members, an axle mounted on said frame near an end thereof, a casting arranged at the other end of said frame adjacent the corner thereof and adapted to serve as a mounting for a supporting wheel, the opposite adjacent vcorner of said frame having an extension adapted to support an operator, a diagonal extending from said corner casting to the diagonally opposite corner of said frame, a short diagonal crossing the same at about its center and connected with the said side members at points remote from their respective ends, and a reinforcement transversely extending between said side members and connected therewith at points between said point of connection with said diagonals.

8. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a left hand corner casting, a leftside frame-member extending forwardly therefrom, a rear-end frame-member extending therefrom transversely to the aforesaid member, a right-side frame-member extending forwardly from an intermediate portion of said end member, and an operators seat supported by the overhanging portion of said end member projecting to the right beyond said right-side frame-member.

9. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a rear-end frame-member, a right-side frame member connected to an intermediate portion of said end member and extending forwardly therefrom and transversely thereto, an operators seat snpported by the overhanging portion of said end member projecting to the right of s aid side member, a mounting for a steering wheel secured -to the left-hand end of said end member, a forwardly extending leftside frame member, and means connected with the forward portions of said side frame members for mounting traction wheels.

10. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a corner casting providing a post for supporting a steering Wheel, a side frame-member extending forwardly from a rigid connection with said casting, an end frame-member extending to the right from said casting, a diagonal frame-member also extending from a rigid connection with said casting between the aforesaid members, and frame members connecting and bracing the three above mentioned members.

11. A structure of the nature disclosed combining an open rectangular frame formed of side members, end members, and diagonal members, and a corner casting having vertical webs, one connected with a side member and another with an end member of said frame and also having a horizontal web conneet-ed with one of the diagonal members of said frame.

l2. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a corner casting providing a ver tical post and two vertical webs connected therewith, and having a horizontal web connected with said vertical webs, said webs outlining a three-sided pyramid, a rectangular frame having a side member connected with the one vertical web and an end member connected with the other vertical web, and a member connected with the horizontal web and extending diagonally into a connection with a forward corner of said frame.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

PAUL A. MONTANUS. ARTHUR W. GRANT.

Witnesses:

EDWARD SIDNEY MONTANUS, MARY CATHERINE DEAsY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. 

